For Immediate Release – Lawton, OK, Oct. 7, 2004
Cameron University event to spotlight India
Cameron University will host its first-ever “Spotlight on India” celebration Thursday, Oct. 14.
Drs. Ajay and Shireen Bhargava established an endowed lectureship with the goal of improving awareness
about India in Lawton-Fort Sill and at Cameron.
“India is the world’s most populous democracy and, economically and militarily, the United States of
America is the most powerful democracy,” said Dr. T.K. Bhattacharya, a CU business professor who is
coordinating the day’s events. “The two countries are in the process of strengthening their relationship,
which will result in more business opportunities for Americans in India and vice-versa.”
Skand Ranjan Tayal, India’s Consul General at Houston, will address this year’s class of Leadership
Lawton-Fort Sill and prominent leaders of the Lawton community during an 11:30 a.m. luncheon. At 2 p.m.,
Tayal will discuss Indo-U.S. relations during a lecture in the Goodyear Lecture Hall of the CU Sciences
Complex. Simultaneously, in the McCutcheon Recital Hall, Pandit Debashish Bhattacharya and his brother
Subhashish will perform a lecture-cum-recital. Both afternoon events are free and open to the public.
The evening concludes with “India Nite” at 6:30 p.m. with a speech by Tayal on “India as an Economic
Partner of the United States,” an Indian cuisine dinner from “Ajanta” and music by the Bhattacharyas. This
popular event is already sold out.
For more information on Cameron’s “Spotlight on India” please contact Bhattacharya at 580/581-2533.
(over)
india night, ADD ONE
Here are brief profiles of the three featured guests:
Skand Ranjan Tayal earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Allahabad, and a master’s
degree in chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur. He has done research work in organic
chemistry at IIT-Kanpur and has published research papers in international chemical journals. Tayal was
the first secretary in the Permanent Mission of Indian to the United Nations, director and secretary to the
Indian National Commission for UNESCO. He has been head of Division for all Consular, Passport and
Visa work, Chief Passport Officer of India, managed the Central Passport Organization as CEO, and was
Consul General of India at Johannesburg. Tayal has served in the Indian embassies in Sofia, Warsaw,
Geneva and Moscow.
Debashish Bhattacharya started learning music from his parents at a very early age. He has studied with
Brij Bhushan Khabra, father of Indian classical guitar, Ajoy Chakraborty, eminent Indian vocalist and Ustad
Ali Akbar Khan. As a performer, he gave his first guitar recital at the age of four on India Radio and in a
public concert. In 1984 he was awarded the President of India Award at the age of 21. Debashish
developed his own innovative Hindustani slide guitar method. He has toured with Bob Brozman, the
International Troupe, and John McLaughlin. He is a renowned artist both musically and vocally.
Subhashish Bhattacharya is a leader in his generation of Indian percussionists. The younger brother of
Debashish grew up steeped in the deep musical background of learning melody and rhythm from infancy.
The master tabla player has regularly performed in every major Indian music festival and has recorded four
albums with Debashish and seven albums with Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty.
– 30 –
PR#04-228
Editors and Broadcasters: For details, contact CU Government & Community Relations at 580.581.2211.
Photos of Mr. Tayal and the Bhattacharyas are available on request.